Idiom

Idiom is a phrase or an expression that has a figurative, or sometimes literal, meaning. Categorized as a form of formulaic language, idioms are not meant to be taken literally. They have a meaning that is not deducible from those of the individual words. For example, an English speaker would understand the phrase "kick the bucket" to mean "to die" – and also to actually kick a bucket. Furthermore, they would understand when each meaning is being used in context.

Definition

An idiom is a common word or phrase with a culturally understood meaning that differs from what its composite words' denotations would suggest; i.e. the phrase is not taken literally. For example, the English phrase "to kick the bucket" conveys the idea of dying, not of physically kicking a container.

Types of Idioms

Idioms can be classified into three types: cliché, colloquialism, and slang. A cliché is an idiom that has become so common that it has lost its original impact, such as "as easy as pie". A colloquialism is an idiom that is used in everyday conversation but not in formal speech or writing. Slang is a type of language that is informal and is often used by a particular group of people.

Examples

Some examples of idioms include "break a leg" (meaning good luck), "kick the bucket" (meaning to die), "the ball is in your court" (meaning it is your decision), and "bite the bullet" (meaning to endure a painful situation).

See Also

• Metaphor
• Simile
• Proverb
• Saying
• Phrase

References

Idiom Resources
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